Hopper discharge



July 29, 1941.

w; F. DIETRlci-lscmfv HOPPER DI'SHARGE Filed May 18, 19.38

. V4 sheets-sheet 1 BY j ATTORNEY f July 29, 1941. uw. F. DIETRlcHsoN r HOPPER DI S CHARGE 4 Sheets-SheecI 2 Filed May 18, 1938 ATTORNEY July 29,1941. w. F. DIETRICHSON v .2,250,524

HOPPER DISCHARGE.

MWA@

July 29, 1941. w. E. DIETRxcHsoN 2,250,524

HOPPER DISCHARGE ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT orrlgceff -HOPPER DISCHARGE l William F. Dietrichson, Berwick, Pa., assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May is, lssafserial No. 208,665

2o claims( v(c1. 10s-307) This'invention relates to discharge outlets for hoppers in general and in particular to such discharge outlets for use on railway or similar hopper cars.

In the past discharge outlets for hoppers have been providedin which the outlet was controlled by slides, doors or various other means but in all these constructions it was impossible to provide a proper moisture and air tight seal between the slide or door and the hopper. It hasbecome the practice in recent years to carry a large variety of bulk materials in hopper cars which had previously been carriedonly in package form; for instance, sugar, cement and certain chemicals. In transporting certain Ychemicals it'is very necessary that all joints be not only water-proof but also substantially air tight, since the chemical may attract moisture and generate dangerous gases. For instance, if calcium carbide is carried in a hopper which is not air and moisture tight the carbide will attract moisture generating acetylene gas with the liability of an explosion. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a hopperdischargewhich is substantially air and water tight at all times either during transit or during discharge of the contents.

A further object of the nventionis the 'provision of a hopper discharge ldevice in which the outlet is ,controlled by'a slide gate, the ways for which are electively 'sealed during discharge of the lading from the hopper.

A vyet further object of the invention is vthe provision of a slide controlled discharge for hoppers in which the slide may be jammed against one portion of the discharge by another portion movable relative thereto.

A still `further object of the invention is the provision of a hopper discharge having a rotatable part which may be'shifted into engagement with a xed part to form a substantially smooth and continuous discharge outlet.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional View showing the improved discharge mechanism with gate open as applied to a railway hopper car;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged sectional view of the hopper discharge mechanism showing the gate in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the discharge outlet and mechanism;

Fig. 4. is-an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with certain parts broken away to better disclose the construction;`

Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail View of a portionof the discharge Voutlet with the gate in open position; Y Y

Fig. 6 is a planV view vof a'modied form-ofVv hopper discharge mechanism with parts brokeny away to better disclose the construction;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken substantially on:

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will beseen that the discharge mechanism has been illustrated as applied to a railway hopperl car but it is obvious that the-mechanism is of generali application and may be used with other vhoppers, whether they be of the transportable type-'0r stationary. The railway carin the present instance is of'generally conventional form rhaving channel center sills 2 connected by a deector formed cover `plate 4 having connected theretothe center sills through bolster I4 and truss or.

other form'bracing members i6. The usual or Ynecessary bracing-angles I8 and gussets 20 are applied to the end and intermediate slope sheets to brace the same and to interconnect various elements of the car structure. The various slope sheetsforming the hopper discharge are, in the present instance, located substantially at right angles to each other,thus'forming av ,rectangular opening bound by the lower edges of the sheets which are attached to the outletcasting prefer-` ably in recessed areas 22 formed in the'upper and outwardly inclined flanges 24 of the outlet casting. The outlet casting illustrated is formed by the before-mentioned flanges located substantially at right angles to eachother to form a rectangular upper portion which merges by 'means ofvertical webs 26 and inclined corner areas 2 8 into a substantially circular opening 30.., The

lower edge of the web portions-26 merge into an outwardly directed ledge portion 32 which-inturn is connected at its outer edge by a short vertical portion 34 to an inwardly directed ledge portion 36 located substantially parallel to the upper ledge but spaced -therebelow in order to provide slideways 38 on at least three sides of the casting. The ledge 32 is continuous in order to prevent entrance of moisture as is also the connecting portion 34V between theledges but-,the

inwardly directed ledge 361 is discontinuous in order to provide a plurality of openings permitting discharge from the ways of any material that may be forced therein. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the outer edges of the ledges are curved substantially concentric with the discharge opening to provide a substantially semi-circular portion merging into a substantially straight portion, thus permitting the use of a slidable gate member. The inner edge of the lower ledge 35 merges into a downwardly directed ange 42 having threads 44 cut in its inner surface and being braced by gussets 45 extending between the flange and lower ledge (Figs. 3 and 5). In order to provide an eficient seal in the guideways adjacent the discharge opening a groove 4,1 is cut in the upper ledge adjacent the point of mergence between the ledge and web 26, which groove is adapted to receive a rubberv or other resilient gasket 48 having its lower surface preferably cupped to provide at least two contacting edges 49; As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper and lower ledges are extendedas at 50 to merge with the connecting portion 434 which has been extended at a tangent .to the curved portion thereof. The connecting portion 34 has been eliminated on the fourth side of the casting, thus providing an opening 5l to the guideways through which the slide plate may move. Projecting anges 52 are provided on this fourth side of the casting, which flanges are adapted to receive a U-shaped pressing having an upper web 53 and depending side flanges 54, the lower edges of which are adapted to receive a similar U-shaped pressing having a web 56 and down? wardly directed short side flanges 51 secured by means of rivets or other devices 58 to the lower edge of the flanges rst mentioned (Fig. 4). The forward edges of the flanges 53 and 54 are securely fastened tothe flanges 52 of the casting, while the rear portions of the web andv flanges are connected together by a plate 59 welded or otherwise secured in place, thus forming a substantially closed box-like member extending from the casting and giving access to the slideways of the casting. A portion of the web 26 on the casting is enlarged as at 50 and provided with an opening to form a bearing for one end of a screw threaded rod 6I, the opposite end of which is carried by the rear closure 4plate 59 and extends therethrough to receivea bevel or other gear 62.

In order to close the discharge opening a slide plate 64" is provided having its forward edge curved to conform with the curvature of the connecting portion 34 and its rear straight portion extended to receive spaced angular brackets 65 between which is mounted an internally threaded nut 66 adapted toengage the screw threaded shaft to cause movement of the slide in the guideways either to open or closed position. Guide projections 61 are provided connected and welded or otherwise secured to the web 56 of the lower Ushaped pressing previously referred to in order to guide the sliding movements of the gate and insure-its proper entrance and exit from the guideways of the casting. The slide plate or gate may be urged upwardly against the resilient gasket by means of an annular discharge member 'l0 havingits upper edge preferably provided with a bronze or similar bearing ring 1l and its surface formed with threads 12 adapted to engage the threads 44 cut in the outlet casting. This annular discharge member is rotatable in the. rigid discharge member or casting and in order that; it may be readily rotated it is provided with handles or other means 14 accessible from at least one side of the hopper in order that the member may be either raised or lowered relative to the rigid casting member. It is also preferable that the annular discharge member be provided on its lower edge with a lip 'I5 over which a ring 16 may be snapped, which ring preferably carries a flexible canvas or othertube 11 (Fig. 1), thus permitting dischargeof material while protected from moisture in the atmosphere. A more or less conventional operating means is provided for the screw threaded shaft and is shown as consisting of a shaft 18 suitably operatedy exterior of the hopper construction and having a gear on its inner end meshing with the gear 62. A

The operation of this mechanism is as follows and assuming the gate or slide plate to be in the closed position as shown in Fig. 2 with the rotatable discharge member forced upwardly against the slide plate and jamming the same against the resilient gasket to make an absolutely moisture tight joint. The annular discharge member will be rotated lowering the same away from the slide plates and permitting the gate or slide plate to come in contact with the lower surface of the guideways and relieving the pressure of the resilient gasket upon the slide plate partially if not entirely. With the gate lowered upon the slideways vrotation of the shaft 18in the proper direction will cause the gate or slide to be moved from the discharge opening to a position within the .box-like extension,` after which .the rotatable discharge member may beA turned to bring the bronze'or other bearing ring thereof into sealing engagement with the gasket (Fig. 5), thus preventing the escape of anyl dust or particles from the outlet while at the same time preventing ingress of moisture from the outside.` There is, of course, a short period of time during which the gate is being moved and beforethe annular member can be brought into contact with the gasket which will permit the entrance of a smallV amount of material to the guideways but this material will be readily pushed out of the guideways Athrough openings 40 when the slide plate is` returned to its closed position after emptying of the hopper. been emptied or it is desired to close the gate, the annular discharge member is rotated to lower the same away from the gasket and the shaft 18 again turned in the proper direction forcing the gate or slide plate along the guideways to completely close the discharge opening. With the gate or slide plate in closed position the annular discharge member is rotated to raise the same and lift the gate from its slideways and jam the same against the resilient gasket. It is thus seen that a water-proof joint is provided and also that due to the pressure applied to the gate it would be practically impossible to retract the same without a movement of the annular member, which member must be positively moved since the screw threads are cut at such an angle as to be of the so-called self-locking type.

Referring now to the slight modification shown in Figs. 6', '7 and 8, it will be seen that in general the casting and hopper arrangement is substantially similar to that just described. In this form, however, the outlet casting has been modified slightly and as shown is provided with a hopper sheet attached flange merging into a vertical web portion 8| which in turn merges with the inner end of an upper ledge 82 from Which a flange 83 depends and this ange is pro- After the hopper has vided upon its lower edge with a lip 84 adapted to receive a removable chute previously described. In connection with Figure 7 the inner surface of this depending ange is provided with screw threads 85 adapted to engage similar threads cut on the outer surface of a rotatable dischargel member 86. This rotatable discharge member is preferably provided on its upper edge with ai bronze or similar bearing ring 81 and vis also provided with gear teeth 88 cut therein upon the outer surface adjacent -the lower end thereof to provide in effect a gear ring for operation of vthe rotatable member. As clearly shown in Figs. 6` and 7 an opening is provided in the -casting through which a gear 89 may extend to mesh with the gear teethV to operate the rotatable member. The gear 89 is keyed to the lower end of a shaft 90 and carries at its upper end a bevel gear 9| adapted to mesh with a Agear92 carried upon one end of shaft 93, the Vopposite end of which carries a hand wheel S4. The intermediate portions of the shafts 93 and 90 have bearing engagement in a bracket extension 95 preferably cast integral with the outlet casting. One porr-v tion of the outlet casting is 'extended outwardly and upwardly to provide spaced bearings 96 in which an operating lshaft V98 is journaledand carries a pair of bevel or otherr gears 99 and a'nj operating hand wheeldlllll.: The bevel or other gears mesh with similar gears `YI 82 keyedv orother-l wise secured to vertical shafts |4, the lower ends of which carry spur or similar gears |86. 'Ihe vertical shafts are journaled in bearing portions ||J8 extending outwardly from the casting upon either side thereof and to` the Vrear of the dis'- 2 charge opening. The spur gears are located substantially in the same horizontal plane as the guideway of the outlet casting and are adapted to mesh with the rack teeth |89 cutV inthe side edge portions of rectangular slide plate or gate H0. A gasket |I2 of rubber or other vresilient material is provided surrounding the discharge opening and of a type similar to thatfdescribed in Figs. l to 5 inclusive. It is, of course, obvious that since a rectangular plate is Vused the casting must be modied slightly from that described in connection with Figs. 1Y to 5; that is, the ledge and connecting portions must be modified to accommodate the plate butin any'case the lower ledge will be provided with openings I |6 through which material may escape from the guideways.

Ihe operation of this modification is as 'fol-AY lows and assuming the gate in closed position: The hand wheel 84 will be rotated in the proper direction causing the spur gear 89 to rotate the discharge member lowering the same together with the slide plate away from the resilient gasket. As soon as the discharge member has been lowered operation of hand wheel |08 will cause the spur gears |08 to pull the slide gate rearward to open the discharge outlet in'which position the discharge plate will be supported in the extension guideways |20. When it is desired to close the outlet, reverse rotation of hand wheel |69 will force the slide plate back intov thefcastg ing guideways closing the opening and pushing' any material which may be lodged therein out through the opening inthe lower ledge; -The hand wheel 94 may now be operated causing the spur gear 89 to rotate the discharge member forcing the same upwardly against I the slide plate and jamming the latter tightly against the resilient gasket to form a water-proof joint, In this form it will be practically impossible ,toretract the gate and open the discharge outlet unless tl'esupporting discharge member has been lowered relieving the pressure upon the slide plate; therefore, if suitable locksI are providedV for theoperating mechanisms it will be almostl impossible for unauthorized persons toV discharge material Vfrom the hopper. Although the hopper discharge mechanism been described more orless in detail, itis obvious that various modifications and rearrangementsof parts thereof will be apparent to persons skilled in the art and all such modications and'- rearrangements of parts are contemplated as fall within the scope-vof the following claims.

" What is claimed is; Y

l. In a railway hoppercar, a hopper discharge portion of said frame to provide a weatherproof:

joint at the opening and to lower the door out of such tight engagement. d

`2. In a' railway hopper' car, a hopper discharge' arrangement comprsing'a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge en d portion and provided with an opening, and door supporting means, Va slidable door adapted to be reciprocated upon the door supporting means to open and close vthe opening, and annular means carried by the frame and movable laterallyv toward the plane of the door to force the same into tight engagement with a portion ofthe frame to provide a' weatherproofjoint at said opening, said annular means beingmovable laterally away from the planeofthe door to free said door frornlsaid tight engagement. Y

3. In a railway hopper car, a'hopper discharge arrangement comprising a YframeV secured tothe hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, sealing means carried by the frame and surrounding said opening, a slidable door movable relative to .said4 supporting means to open and closed positions, and annular meansl carried by the frame and movable laterally Y toward the plane of the closed door toV force the same into tight vengagement With said sealing means thereby forming aA weatherproof Vjoint, at the opening,' said annular means being movable laterally away from the plane of the door to freethe same from said tight engagement. l

4 l. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame securedY toV the4 hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means,

.sealing means carried'rby the frame and sur;

rounding said'opening., a slidable door movable relative to said supporting means to open and closed positions, and means carried by the framev and movable laterally of the plane of 'the closedn door to f orcethe same into tight engagement with said sealing means thereby forming a weatherproof jointat the opening;V said means being also movable into contact with the sealing means when theA door is in open position whereby the door supporting means is protected from material discharging through the said opening.

5, In arailway hopper car7 ahopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to thedischarge end portion of the hopper and prohas vided with an opening, guideways carried by the frame and substantially surrounding' the openingya slidable door supported by the guideways and movable therein to open and closed positions for controlling the said openingzand'means dening a portion of the. discharge: opening carried by the frame and movable relative thereto to force the door intotight engagement with a portion of theframe to form a weatherproof joint and to lower the door out of such tight engagement. Y Y

6. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a framesecured to the discharge end portion of the hopper and provided with an opening, guideways carried by the frame and lsubstantially surrounding the opening, a slidable door supported bythe Vguideways and movable therein to open and closed posi-v tions for controlling the said opening, and rota-table means threaded into the wall of the hop` per opening, said means moving laterally in the direction of the plane of the door during said rotation thereby forcing the door intoy tight engagement with a portion of the frame toV form a weatherproof joint.

7.. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the discharge end portion of thefhopper and provided with an opening, guideways carried by the frame and substantially surrounding the opening, sealing means carried by the frameand substantially surrounding the opening, a slidable door supported by the guideways and movable therein. to open and closed positions controlling the said opening, and rotatable means threaded into the wall ofthe hopper opening, said means movable laterally against the door during its rotation thereby lifting the closed door and forc-l ing' the same into tight engagement with the sealing means to `form a weather-proof joint.

8. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the discharge end portion of the hopper andpro-- videdwith an opening, guideways carried by the frame and substantially surrounding the open-- ing, seal-ing means carried by' the frame and substantially surrounding the opening, a slidable doo-r su-pported by the guideways and movable therein toopen and closed positions controlling thel said opening, and means carried by the frame and rotatable relative thereto, said means moving laterally against the plane of the door during said rotation thereby lifting the closed door and forcing the same into tight engagement with, the seal-ing means to form a weatherproof joint, and saidl means being also movable into direct engagement with the seal-ing means when the door is open to prevent discharging material blocking the guideways.

9. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secu-red to the discharge end portion of the hopper and provided wi-th an opening, guideways carried by the frame and substantially surrounding the opening, sealing means carried4 bythe frame and substantially surrounding the opening adjacent the gudeways, a slidable door 'supported by the guideways and movable therein to open and closed positions controlling the said opening,

means carried by the frame and rotatable relative thereto, a passageway removably carried by said means for receiving material discharging from the hopper, said means moving laterally against the plane of the door during said rotation thereby lifting the closed door and forcing the same into tight engagement with the sealing means tof form a weatherproof joint, said meansl being also movable intocontact with the seal@l ing means when the door is in open position whereby the guideways are protected from the discharging material and a weatherproof connection is formed between the passage and hopper.

10. In akrail-way hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the discharge end portion of the hopperand provided with an opening, guideways carried by the frame and substantially surrounding the opening, sealing means carried by the frame and substantially surrounding the opening adjacenty the guideways, a slidable door supported bythe guideways and movable therein to open and closed positions controlling the said opening, r0

tatable means carried by the frame, said rotatable means having threaded engagement with theA frame beneath said door whereby rotation thereof wil-l shift said means against lthe closed door toforce the door into. tight engagement withthe sealing means to form a weatherproofv joint, a flexible passageway removably carried by said rotatable means for receiving material discharging from the hopper, said rotatable means being also' movable during rotation into tight engagement with` the sealing meansl when the door is in open position thereby forming a weatherproof connection between the passage-- wayk and hopper.

11. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge. arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at itsl discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporti-ng means, a door movabley to. open and closed positions upon said supporting means,- rotatable` means. having threadedengagement with the frame whereby said. door when closed may be forced into-weatherproof engagement with a portion of thel frame, and ay passageway removably carried by said rotatable means, said rotatablemeans being alsoA movable intor engagement with anupper portion of the frame when the door is. open` to form a weatherproof connection between the passageway andy hopper.

1-2. In a railway hopper car, ahopper dis' charge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means,y a door movable relative to said supporting means, operating means to move the door to open and closed positions, rotatable means having threaded enga-gement with the frame, said rotatable means shifting during rotation thereof into engagement with the closed door to forcethe same into weatherproof engagement with a portion of the frame, 4and additional operating means for rotating said rotatable means.

13. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopperA at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, a. door movable relative tosaid supporting means, means toy move the door to open and closed positions, rotatable means having threadedv engagement with the frame, said rotatable means shifting during its rotation into engage-v ment with the closed door tov lift the same into weatherproof engagement with a portion ofthe frame, andl means to rotatesai-d rotatablemeans and shift the sameY into or out of engagement with the closed door.

v14. In a railwayI hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, a door movable relative to said supporting means, means to move the door to open and closed positions, rotatable means having threaded engagement with the frame, said rotatable means shifting during its rotation into engagement with the closed door to lift the same into weatherproof engagement with a portion of the frame, and means Vto rotate said rotatable means and shift the same into or out of engagement with the closed door, said last named means also being operable to shift the rotatable means into engagement with said portion of the frame when the door is open.

15. In a hopper the combination of a discharge opening for the hopper, a frame attached to the hopper at the discharge opening and itself provided with an opening, a door shiftable to open and close the opening in the frame, means carried by the frame independently of the door and shiftable to force the closed door into weatherproof engagement with a portion of the frame, and operating means for said door and means to control the sluiting of the same, said rst named means being also shiftable into Weatherproof engagement with said portion of the frame when the door is in open position.

16. In a hopper the combination of a discharge opening for the hopper, a frame attached to the hopper at the discharge opening and itself provided with an opening, a door shiftable to open and close the opening in the frame, operating means to shift the door, means defining a portion of the hopper opening carried by the frame and shiftable into engagement with the door to force the door into weatherproof engagement with a portion of the frame, and additional operating means to shift said last named means, said operating means being inoperable to shift the door prior to operation of said additional operating means to free the door from said weatherproof engagement with the frame.

17. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, a door movable relative to said supporting means to open and close said opening, and shiftable means forming a portion of the discharge opening constructed and arranged for movement into tight engagement with a portion of the frame to provide a Weatherproof joint.

18. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, a door movable relative to said supporting means to open and close said opening, and shiftable means forming a portion of the discharge opening for engaging the door when in its closed position to retain the same in tight engagement with a portion of the frame, said shiftable means also disengaging the door permitting the same to lower out of said tight engagement with the frame.

19. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, a door movable relative to said supporting meansI to open and close said opening, and shiftable means movable within the discharge opening to sealthe door opening when the door is in open position.

20. In a railway hopper car, a hopper discharge arrangement comprising a frame secured to the hopper at its discharge end portion and provided with an opening and door supporting means, a slidable door adapted to be' reciprocated upon the door supporting means to open and close the opening, and means carried by the frame in cooperative relation with the door and angularly shiftable about an axis normal to the plane of the door to force said door into tight engagement with the frame to provide a Weatherproof joint at said opening, said means also being angularly shiftafle in the opposite direction and in a plane normal to the plane of the door to free said door from tight engagement with said frame.

WILLIAM F. DIETRICHSON. 

